Method and apparatus for applying closures



Dec; 6, 1938. e. w. BOOTH METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING CLOSURES Filed April 16, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l Georye 7d 306%;

,,. (Jami/511W y Examiner Dec. 6, 1938. a. w. BOOTH 2,139,572

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING CLOSURES I Filed April 16, 1934' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3&1 2, 9 5 W Patented Dec. c, 1938 UNITED STATES METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING CLOSURES George w. Booth, Baltimore, minimto Crown Cork & SealCompany, Inc., Baltimore, Md., a corporation of New York Application April 16, 1934, Serial No. 720,867

Claims.

size relative to a bead to which they are to be applied and are so ironed and drawn over the bead that their lower marginal portions take a natural looking crimp beneath the bead. As contrasted to this, according to the present invention, the size of the closure disc is so related to the bead, where a beaded lip is provided, as to be conf rmable smoothly thereto with its lower edge, 1 stead of being buckled or crlmped, substantially'in smooth continuous circumferential 20 contact with the bead surface. The bead may be of such form and the disc of such size that the lower edge of the latter upon application lies in the cylinder of the skirt, that is, is not constricted relative to the normal circumferential circle of the skirt. 0n the other hand, with a shorter head or with a larger disc, the edge of the applied disc may be somewhat inturned to give a positive lock beneath the shoulder, the edge at the same ztime being smoothly conformed to the bead surface. While I have mentioned a bead, I wish to point out that in the practice of the invention the specific provision of such an element is not necessary, although usual. For example, the disc may be applied to the lip, cylindrical or otherwise, of a plain walled glass, or like receptacle. Furthermore, while the closure is preferably initially substantially flat; the invention is not limited in this respect, since the closure may be initially more 40 or less skirted without departure from the invention. In short,'the invention is susceptible of varied embodiment while still retainingrthe general characteristic of a smoothly conformed, (i. e. without appreciable crimps) lower edge in ,the applied closure.

of F ure 1;

-modilled form of closure disc;

In order to point out the scope'of the ma t Figure 3 is a diametric section of a slightly Figure 4 is an elevation of the upper end of a container provided with one suitable form of beaded lip;

Figure 5 is an axial section, enlarged, of the container portion shown in Figure 4 with a clo- 5- sure applied in accordance with the present invention; I

Figure 6 is an elevation of the upper end of a container having a modified form of finish;

Figure 7 is an elevation, enlarged and partly 10 in axial section, of the container portion of Figure 6 with a closure applied thereto;

Figure 8 shows an elevation of a still further -modifled form of finish;

" Figure 9 is an elevation, enlarged and partlyJii in axial section, showing a'closure applied to the finish of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is an elevation partly in axial section of a container portion similar to that of Figures 6 and 'l but with a different relation of the applied closure;

Figure Ills a view similar'to Figure 9 but with a different relation of the applied closure;

Figure 12 is an elevation partly in axial section of the upper end of a container having an externally threaded bead with a closure applied thereto;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary axial section of a container having an ordinary bead flnisli with a-closure applied thereto;

Figure 14 is a fragmentary axial section of a container in the form of a glass showing a clo-- sure applied directly-to the lip thereof; 1

Figure 15 is a sectional view through the lower portion of a capping head adapted to apply the disc closures; and. v

Figure 16 is a view similar to Figure 15 but with the parts in different relation.

Referring to the drawings, simple forms of closure discs are showninFlgures 1 to3. InFlgure's 1 and 2, reference numeral 20 designates a flat circular disc of ductile material, such as metal, and reference numeral 2| designates a facing layer of relatively compressible material.

.which may-be in the form of a lamination, coating, etc. Whfle the provision of a facing layer is desirable, it is not essential under some circumstances, and the ductile disc 2! alone 'will suflice. "In Figure 3, reference numeral 22 des-' ignates a ductile disc and reference numeral 23 5o a facing layer. According to this embodiment, the central portion of the disc is upwardly offset relative to the marginal portionthereof so that a centering shoulder is provided. The size of the discs is chosen in accordance. with considera- I5,

tions which will be hereinafter explained. Since the offset in the closure disc of Figure 3 is relatively small, this disc may be said to be substantially flat and the equivalent of the disc of Figures 1 and 2 which is absolutely flat. So long as the disc comprises a ductile portion, it will be understood that the present invention is not limited with respect to the details of its make-up. Multi-ply facings, for example, may be used if desired.

Figure 4 shows the upper end of a bottle 24 provided with a bead 25. The bead intermediate its rounded upper and lower edges has a cylindrical surface of substantial extent. the intermediate portions of the head, as shown in Figure 5, are in lines in an axial plane of the container which are parallel to the container axis. As described in my application above mentioned, the closure disc is applied to the head by an ironing and drawing action so that the developed skirt portion conforms smoothly to the upper bead surface. As contrasted to the specific disclosure of that application, however, in the present instance and, as shown in Figure 5,

the disc is of such size relative to the bead that its lower edge terminates in the cylindrical portion of the latter and is continuously conformed thereto, instead of having a buckled portion engaged beneath the bead. The application of the closure may be eifected by apparatus such as is shown in U. S. Patent No. 1,956,218, granted April 24, 1934 to Huntley and Rau, or by the modified apparatus shown in Figures and 16, which will be later described.

In Figure 5 it has been assumed that the disc of Figures 1 and 2 has been applied although the result is exactly the same in the use of a disc such as is shown in Figure 3 and asimilar result may be obtained in the use of a closure which is initially more or less skirted.

Due to the ironing and drawing action, the

skirt portion of the applied disc grips the lip tightly, although the closure may be removed relatively readily as compared to the crimped disc of my prior application. The facing is compressed and a tight seal provided. Full protection is given to the container contents, but due to the purely frictional engagement of the closure with the bead, its use would, of course, not .be desirable in cases where any great internal pressure is present.

' To enhance the grip of the closure on the bead,

the latter may be suitably modified. In Figures 6 and 7, the head 26 is provided with an intermediate circumferential groove 21 into which the intermediate portion of the closureskirt flows, as at 29, upon application of the closure. As shown in'Figure'I, the lower edge of the applied closure is not constrictedrelative to the maximum circumference of the skirt above groove 21. Due to the inflowing of the skirt portion as shown, the locking effect is, of course, enhanced as compared to therela on shown in Figure 5.

In Figures 8 and 9, t e bead 29 is provided with a plurality of spaced, circumferentially extending grooves 39, the ends of these grooves merging into the intermediate, substantially cylindrical portions ll of the bead. The result is substantially the same, upon application of the closure, as that discussed relative-to Figures 6 and I, the skirt portion of the applied cap flowing into the grooves. In the embodiment shown in Figure 9, however, if the metal portion of the disc is suflicientiy light. the applied closure may be turned relative to the bead, thus camming That is,

the inbent portions out of the grooves and onto the lands so that the closure may be more readily removed. The lands are preferably of at least as great circumferential extent as the grooves.

In Figure 10, the head 32 is provided with a groove 33 as in Figure 6, but in this instance the disc 34 is of smaller diameter than the disc of Figure 7 so that its lower edge enters, to a slight extent, into the upper portion of groove 33 with the result that a positive lock is secured. In the application of the disc 34, its marginal portion is ironed to, or substantially to, or slightly below, the line of maximum circumference of the head 32 above groove 33 so that the edge, due to the ironing and drawing action, naturally flows tightly around the bead slightly below the line of maximum circumference and/or is positively ironed thereunder. It should be stated that the extent of the ironing and drawing action on the disc margin may be considerably varied and in this connection, attention is called to the disclosures of my U. S. Patents Nos. 1,956,208 and 1,956,213, both granted April In Figures 15 and 16, I have shown applying apparatus generally similar to that disclosed in the above mentioned patent of Huntley and Han, although embodying some features of improvement. To refer to these figures, reference numeral 35 designates generally a capping head which at its lower portion provides an annular ledge 36 onto which the discs are fed in position over the container. The head also carries an expansible throat 31 which is axially reciprocable a limited distance relative thereto and which is made up of a number of segments hav ing at their upper ends outwardly extending toe or flange portions 38 which rest on a ledge provided on a slidable ring 39. The segments are surrounded by a spring band 40, preferably of steel, which in turn is surrounded by a compressible ring 4| of rubber or similar material. The ring fills the space or cavity between band 40, the inner periphery of wall 42 of the head, ring 39 and lower toe portions 43 of the-throat segments and an annular ledge 44 which constitutes the lower wall of the cavity. Ring 39 upwardly abuts an annulus 45 which is'slidable in the cavity of the head and is connected by means of studs 46 to an external ring 41. Within the throat is arranged a spring influenced presser tool 49.

When the cap 34 is fed to the position shown on ledge 36 and the head and the bottle are approached, ring 41 is first moved relative to the.

head so that annulus 45, and ring 39 are displaced against the resistance of the rubber ring 44, Figure 15. -.The lower end of the throat is thus approached relative to the ledge and comes as shown and as its lower edge follows the contours of the bead, the throat, due to its segmental formation, expands against the resistance of the rubber ring 4| which has been compressed in its cavity due to the downward movement of annulus 45... Due to the relation of the parts as shown in Figures 15 and 16, the throat still has a downward taper at the termination of the operation, which is shown in .Figure 16. This means that the lower inner edge of the throat is enabled to pass somewhat beneath the line of maximum circumference of the upper bead por-' tion, as shown, so as to positively iron the disc edge to a" slight extent into the groove 33, a positive lock being thus obtained. Exactly the same results may be obtained in the use of an ordinary bead such as is shown in Figure 13 at 49.

The steel band 40 is of course split to provide for expansion of the throat and the edges of the band come substantially together in the normal position of the parts. The band is provided as a matter of convenience in assembly and also to prevent the rubber ring from being pinched between the segments as the throat contracts after the capping operation. The rubber ring serves to return annulus to its upper position relative to the head, Figure 15, and also serves to resist the expansion of the throat. The dimensions and consistency of the ring 4| may be so chosen as to insure the desired results. With the illustrated relation of parts, wherein the rubber ring normally fills the cavity, it can be made in segments, if desired. Preferably, however, it is a solid ring.

In Figure 11, I have shown the same cap 34 applied to a finish such as is shown in Figure 8, the lower edge of the closure entering slightly into the upper portions of the grooves 30 which latter may have the same camming function upon removal of the closure as above described.

In Figure 12, I have shown a bead similar to the bead 25 of Figure 4 but provided with threads 5| whose lower ends are preferably somewhat above the lower edge of the applied disc 52 so .that the latter may be smoothly circular. Due to the provision of the'threads, the closure is locked on the bead upon application due to the flowing of its marginal portion into the threads,

the threads-enabling the closure to be removed by unscrewing.

The provision of a bead, as such, is not essential in the practice of the invention. In Figme 14, for example, I have shown a disc 53 applied to the mouth of an ordinary glass 54. As here shown, the outer marginal portion or lip of the glass is somewhat downwardly tapered, as

an inverted cone, the marginal portion of the closure being tightly ironed and drawnover the upper marginal portion of the glass so that its skirt portion is substantially invertedly conical. The outer side walls of the glass may be cylindrical, as the bead 25, Figure 4, and conversely, the bead I! may be somewhat downwardly tapered if it is desired .to enhance the locking effect. The degree of taper may be chosen as desired and, of course, where the lip is tapered a locking shoulder in the nature of a bead is presented.

From the above, it will be evident that the invention is susceptible of numerousvariations which will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, I do not limit myself to the illustrative embodiments herein shown and described, the scope of the'invention being determined in the following claims.

Iclaim:

1. The method of applying a substantially flat closure disc of ductile material tothe 'lip of a mounted container, which lip has an external downwardly and outwardly rounded top surface, said method comprising positioning the disc on the lip and bending the marginal portion of the disc by ironing and drawing over said top surface to form a skirt which conforms smoothly and closely to said top surface in sealing contact therewith and continuing said ironing and drawing action to bring the edge of the shirt, which edge extends below said downwardly and outwardly rounded top surface, into substantially smooth continuous circumferential sealing engagement with the container below said surface, the skirt tension existing as a result of said ironing and drawing being such as to cause the closure to firmly grip the container to maintain the sealing relation of the closure therewith.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said top surface. is continued into a downwardly and inwardly rounded surface so that'a convexly rounded head is provided, the edge of the skirt lying immediately below the plane of maximum circumference of the bead, and being constricted into locking engagement with the bead by the continued ironing and drawing action.

3. In capping apparatus, a head having a throat cavity, a segmental throat in said cavity and reciprocable axially therein a limited distance, a rubber ring in said cavity normally holding the throat segments together and also holding the throat in a limit positionrelative to the head, and means operable to move the throat from said limit position.

4. In capping apparatus, a head having a throat cavity, a segmental throat in said cavity and reciprooable axially therein a limited dis-- tance, a rubber ring in said cavity surrounding said throat and normally holding the throat segments together, said ring exerting an axial thrust on said throat to hold: normally in a limit position relative to the head, and means operable to move the throat from said limit position.

5. Incapping apparatus, a head havihg aof the throat and" between said flange'and ledge,

said ring normally holding said segments together and normally holding the throat. in an upper limit position relative to the head, and means operable to move the throat downwardly relative to the head.

' GIORGIW. BOOTH. 

